Garth Brooks Pays Tribute to Billy Joel at Kennedy Center Honors [VIDEO]

Garth Brooks hit the stage at the annual Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday night (Dec. 29) to celebrate this year's recipient, Billy Joel. 

This isn't Brooks' first round at the Kennedy Center rodeo; he's performed in tributes to honor George Jones and Loretta Lynn at past ceremonies.

“I’ve been very, very lucky that the three times I’ve done it now, with Billy being the third, these were all epic, iconic heroes that influenced my life and my music,” he tells ABC News Radio.

Brooks joined a lineup including Rufus Wainwright, Don Henley and Brendon Urie of Panic at the Disco to honor Joel with performances of some of his most iconic work. Brooks performed Joel's hit songs 'Allentown' and 'Goodnight Saigon.'

“His catalog is so deep, you could have taken the six or seven songs that we did for a tribute to him, wipe them out and put six or seven more Billy Joel songs in there, and I don’t think you would notice a difference,” Brooks says. “You’ll be stunned if you look up and actually see how many Billy Joel songs you know and that you really loved.”

Kennedy Center Honors were also awarded to Carlos Santana, Shirley MacLaine, Herbie Hancock, Martina Arroyo and Teresa Heinz Kerry.